Mots-clés

Suicidal behaviour

Suicide / Suicidal behaviour

Suicide is the act of voluntarily ending one's life. Linked to mental disorders, it can also be the consequence of financial and human problems, the person being convinced that there is no alternative solution. Nevertheless, the majority of people who attempt suicide suffer from mental disorders, including mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder) alcohol dependence, or psychotic disorders (schizophrenia). There are several causes of suicide: genetic predisposition to depression, incurable illness, chronic pain, insomnia, low self-esteem, harassment, abuse, violence, etc. Often trapped in traumatic experiences or negative experiences for which no help is forthcoming, the depression of those affected is not always obvious and no adequate treatment is put in place. The leading cause of suicide is untreated depression. According to the WHO, suicide is the fifteenth leading cause of death in the world, affecting four times more men than women and the main cause of death among people under 35 (for data see: http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/
Many psychiatric illnesses are the underlying cause of suicidal behaviour. However prediction is difficult and suicide attempts while being a means of reducing temporary suffering are always an indication of underlying psychopathology.